The Smarkets 2018/19 Jumps Season Preview

Winter is coming

The days are getting shorter, the air is (gradually) getting colder, and department stores have started playing the same tired Christmas hits over the loudspeakers on repeat. But it’s not all bad for horse racing fans, because that means it’s time for the jumps season to begin in earnest.

The most dedicated jumps followers might have had a flutter on the summer action, but the top-class British horses will only start heading back to the racecourse over the coming weeks, starting with this weekend’s meeting atChepstow.

There’s a fascinating season of jumps racing ahead, with champions looking to become all-time greats, and some of the most exciting young horses for many years seeking to dethrone them.

The battle of the two-mile chasers

The most eagerly anticipated clash could well occur in the two-mile chasing division. The undisputed king is ALTIOR, who, despite a season interrupted by injury, swept past the field using his unrivalled finishing speed to land the 2018 Champion Chase at Cheltenham in breathtaking style.

The pretender to the crown is FOOTPAD, a horse whose pinpoint and fluid jumping technique has seen him progress from a good hurdler into a potentially great chaser: Footpad hammered the field in all five of his starts last term, including the ruthless demolition of a strong Arkle field.

But with Altior trained by Nicky Henderson in the UK, and Footpad trained by Willie Mullins in Ireland, a much-anticipated showdown might not actually take place until the 2019 Champion Chase in March. Either way, it will be worth the wait.

Staying chasers

Staying chasers always capture the imagination, but with The Jockey Club offering a £1 million bonus for winning the so-called ‘Triple Crown’, and the possible return of the high-class THISTLECRACK and former champ SIZING JOHN from injury, jumps fans are licking their lips in anticipation even more than usual.

The winner of the epic 2018 Gold Cup, NATIVE RIVER, is an out-and-out stayer who relishes tough conditions, which makes him ideally suited to the first of the three legs of the Triple Crown, the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park. However, BRISTOL DE MAI is a proven course specialist with an exemplary record at the Merseyside venue, and he’ll be targeted at the race by Nigel Twiston-Davies.

The next major clash will be the King George, run on Boxing Day at Kempton, a track that generally rewards a high cruising speed and out-and-out class, and as such is made for unlucky Gold Cup runner-up MIGHT BITE.

And there looks sure to be yet another major player to add to the mix for the Gold Cup itself, as impressive RSA Chase winner PRESENTING PERCY has shown he simply loves the Cheltenham hill, boasting two wins from two at the Festival. If even most of these top horses stay fit, it could be an unforgettable season of chasing action.

The hurdlers

The hurdling divisions also contain no lack of intrigue. Two-time Champion Hurdler BUVEUR D’AIR is still just seven years old and has every chance of retaining his crown, although he never truly convinced last season, only getting up by a neck to beat MELON at Prestbury Park.

That could tempt Gordon Elliott into keeping the most exciting horse in training over hurdles this term. That horse is potential superstar SAMCRO, who lived up to his substantial hype when winning the Ballymore and Deloitte Novice Hurdles last season in fine style. This physically imposing specimen was bought to be a chaser, but can Gigginstown’s O’Leary brothers really resist a tilt at the Champion Hurdle?

Even if Samcro does go chasing, Buveur d’Air is likely to face a serious challenge from other up-and-coming horses. SUMMERVILLE BOY won a strong-looking Supreme Novices Hurdle in a quick time, but the Tom George-trained six year old will need to improve his careless hurdling technique.

Last year’s juveniles seemed a mixed bunch, looking to have ability but running inconsistently, until the appropriately named WE HAVE A DREAM delivered a dream performance at Aintree in April, which suggested a serious tilt at this season’s Champion Hurdle could be a reality.

Meanwhile, in staying hurdles, all eyes will be on the great FAUGHEEN, who stormed back to somewhere near his magnificent best with a 13-length defeat of two-time Stayers Hurdle champion PENHILL at Punchestown in April. Was this a glorious one-off or can the 10 year old roll back the years and dominate again?

Novice chasers

And what of those hurdlers from last season who will now look to take on the bigger obstacles in novice chases? If Samcro goes over fences he will prove hard to beat, but one horse who would relish a battle with him is also aptly monikered, the reliable and battle-hardened KALASHNIKOV, narrow runner up in the Supreme Novices Hurdle and previous winner of a hard-fought Betfair Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls, who has had a dearth of top-class horses recently, cannot hide his excitement over the “massive” TOPOFTHEGAME, who “reminds him of Denman” – and there aren’t many bigger compliments than being compared to ‘The Tank’.

Similarly, Tom George cannot overstate how thrilled he is at the prospect of BLACK OP going chasing, and training genius Nicky Henderson loves SANTINI’s chances this coming season. With the amount of talent in this division, trainers will struggle to keep their prized horses apart before the spring festivals, meaning it could be a year full of titanic novice chase battles.

The puzzle of the handicaps

However, even with all of these top clashes due to take place, the jewel in the crown of British jumps racing is still undoubtedly its fiercely competitive big-field handicaps, run throughout the season at even the smaller tracks.

Punters will already be seeking clues from stable tours for likely runners in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on 1st December, twice won by Denman and possibly the highest class handicap of the whole season.

Of course, the biggest betting race of the year will be the Grand National, and ante-post wagers are already flying in, many on reigning champion TIGER ROLL to repeat his victory, or 2017 winner ONE FOR ARTHUR to regain the title.

It starts here

Thankfully there’s an abundance of tremendous racing to watch beforeAintree in April. From now until then every weekend will have at least one meeting of major quality, and, after recent BHA changes, midweek races are becoming increasingly punter friendly too.

You can get your season off to a flyer with our exclusive Horse Racing offer for new customers. Simply sign up with the code HORSERACING50 for £50 risk free on horse racing as 5 x £10 risk-free bets on selected races.

So don’t make the mistake of waiting until Cheltenham – the action starts now.